After going past the halfway point of the 2020 NFL season, we are approaching playoff stakes for multiple teams even though they have not reach the point where there’s any playoff-clinching scenarios. Here’s what we may expect for this week:
Houston Texans @ Cleveland Browns (1pm): The Texans have looked similar to the Giants, their only two wins against a lesser division opponent. The Browns will come back into action after on bye following a bitter home loss to the Raiders. As Houston tries to utilize the weapons they have, J.J. Watt’s name has not been said often due to problems on defense, while the offense has worked hard without DeAndre Hopkins. For Cleveland, Baker Mayfield has just been activated from the COVID-19 list, slated to start on Sunday as he focuses on Kareem Hunt in the backfield as well as his weapons Jarvis Landry, Donovan Peoples-Jones, and Harrison Bryant stepping up while Nick Chubb and Odell Beckham remain on IR. With both these teams in Cleveland, the Browns may etch out a win to remain in the playoff race, and possible the AFC North race as well.
PREDICTION: Browns wins 31-24
Washington Football Team @ Detroit Lions (1pm): After defeating the Cowboys, Washington was showing signs of life until turnovers led to a loss against the Giants. And along with that, Alex Smith is the third QB this season to be named the starter after Dwayne Haskins was benched and Kyle Allen was injured last week. The Detroit Lions have started to struggle after being average to start the season. With Stafford still healthy, they’ll obviously have a better record than their 3-12-1 season last year. The backfield is loaded with rookie Swift, Johnson, and Peterson. If Kenny Golladay comes back, him, along with Marvin Jones, can combine to make the offense tough against a struggling Washington defense.
PREDICTION: Lions win 31-17
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Green Bay Packers (1pm): The Jaguars have been struggling, and it won’t get any easier when they go to Lambeau on Sunday. The Packers have been looking as well as they can be, and with Aaron Jones back from injury, the offense has gotten better. Davante Adams has been staying hot as one of the best receivers in the league and is on pace for his first 1000+ yard season of his career. With Aaron Rodgers remaining hot as well and the defense continuing to provide the pressure, there’s no reason the Packers can’t secure another win against a team with a rookie QB that almost upset their division rival and a rookie RB that’s been looking decent but may struggle.
PREDICTION: Packers win 35-14
Philadelphia Eagles @ New York Giants (1pm): The NFC East remains wide open to all teams in the division due to the subpar performances by each one. With the Giants second-straight season sweeping Washington, they remain 1.5 games behind first place with half of the season left to go. They will go up for a rematch with the Eagles that they would’ve defeated had Evan Engram made the critical 3rd down catch late in the game. The Eagles are remaining the same and come out of bye after defeating the Cowboys where their rookie QB Ben DiNucci struggled and could not get a TD for them. Both the Giants and Eagles can provide pressure on the QB, but with the Giants’ determination for their first win over Philly since 2016, they may finally find it at home despite no fan attendance.
PREDICTION: Giants win 27-23
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Carolina Panthers (1pm): There are many questions with both teams playing at Charlotte this weekend: is Brady actually starting struggle? What will the Panthers do without McCaffrey again? Christian McCaffrey returned from injury against the Chiefs last week and helped nearly upset Kansas City, and Tom Brady got swept by a divisional opponent for the first time in his career and did not record a single TD against the Saints on SNF last week. The Buccaneers can see more weapons like Chris Godwin coming back next week, reigniting their offense and with no McCaffrey on Sunday, Tampa Bay could possibly come back to life and prove doubters wrong by at least keeping Brady’s record of sweeping a divisional rival perfect.
PREDICTION: Buccaneers win 30-20
Denver Broncos @ Las Vegas Raiders (4:05pm): Both AFC West teams are two games apart and are continuing to look successful when healthy. The Raiders broke the Chargers’ hearts last week on a last-second play, denying a game-winning TD, while the Broncos nearly engineered a comeback against a Falcons team that has given up 4th-quarter leads this season. The Raiders continue to have Derek Carr working hard along with Henry Ruggs and Nelson Agholor, while Josh Jacobs is working hard to expand his role in the backfield. Phillip Lindsay has expanded his role in the backfield over Melvin Gordon and an Alabama reunion is in sight as Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs and ready to see each other again. With the Raiders hosting, a win for Las Vegas is in sight along with staying well within the playoff race.
PREDICTION: Raiders win 28-23
Los Angeles Chargers @ Miami Dolphins (4:05pm): After the success both starting rookie QB’s had in college, they are ready to meet up with a big future in sight. Herbert has looked good with L.A., but heartbreak has been a problem with blown leads over their last few losses, while the Dolphins have actually had playoff aspirations coming, especially with Tua and the Dolphins’ D stepping up. After shocking the Rams and Cardinals over the last two weeks, the Dolphins remain 1.5 games behind the Bills for the AFC East lead. The Chargers lost Joshua Kelley, and with the Dolphins getting hot, the Dolphins will keep in pace with Buffalo.
PREDICTION: Dolphins win 27-24
Buffalo Bills @ Arizona Cardinals (4:05pm): People could see this as a sleeper Super Bowl matchup if both teams prove themselves of making a deep playoff run starting in January. The Bills are coming off a huge win against potential MVP-candidate Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks with a big performance by Josh Allen, while Kyler Murray and the Cardinals are coming off a hard-fought loss to Tua and the surging Dolphins. A battle is brewing in Phoenix, and both of these teams can most likely make the playoffs this season, and with the Bills’ and Cardinals’ tough offense, expect a shootout that the Bills’ defense may be the best of.
PREDICTION: Bills win 38-34
Seattle Seahawks @ Los Angeles Rams (4:25pm): With the NFC West teams that lost last week, this matchup will determine first place in the division. The Rams and Seahawks split the series last season and may expect a close game coming. After losing to the Bills, the Seahawks will look to try and improve their defense to start racking up wins again, while the Rams will look to rebound after they lost at Miami before their bye week. The Rams defense looks stronger that the Seahawks at the moment, and with both offenses staying in the mix, the Rams may find themselves temporarily assuming first place after this weekend.
PREDICTION: Rams win 34-28
San Francisco 49ers @ New Orleans Saints (4:25pm): From a season-sweep over Tom Brady and the Buccaneers, are the Saints back to peak-physical form? Michael Thomas is back from injury, and despite no TD this season, the Saints are undefeated when he plays, so his impact can lead to more success after the early-season struggles to Las Vegas and Green Bay. For the 49ers, after a hard loss to the Packers last week due to multiple injuries that could also be a problem this week, the Saints look ready for revenge after last season’s shootout loss to the 49ers.
PREDICTION: Saints win 34-13
Cincinnati Bengals @ Pittsburgh Steelers (4:25pm): The only concern the Steelers have right now is if Big Ben is healthy enough for Sunday. Despite their success, they barely kept their perfect season together for the time being against an upset-minded Cowboys team where Big Ben looked like “Iron Ben.” The Bengals are starting to gain some success with Joe Burrow looking like an Offensive ROTY candidate with each week that passes. Expect a close rivalry match with the Steelers holding on once more.
PREDICTION: Steelers win 33-27
Baltimore Ravens @ New England Patriots (SNF @ 8:20pm): Injuries have affected both Baltimore and New England, but the struggles have affected the Patriots more while they continue to work through their post-dynasty era. After a dismal first half, the Ravens stepped up both on offense and defense to hold off the Colts in the end for their first-ever win at Lucas Oil Stadium. Cam Newton has not produced a single TD pass since the beginning of the season, and with many star defensive players injured, Lamar Jackson will outpace Cam Newton in a battle of mobile QB’s.
PREDICTION: Ravens win 33-16
Minnesota Vikings @ Chicago Bears (MNF @ 8:15pm): A defensive matchup is in sights at Soldier Field with both teams fighting for a chance to be in the playoff race. The Vikings have started to amass success after two-straight division wins over the Packers and Lions thanks to Dalvin Cook’s success after coming back from injury. Nick Foles is still trying to find an answer in the air after little offense has been produced. The defense still has tough weapons such as Khalil Mack, but the Vikings look more better on both sides of the field.
PREDICTION: Vikings win 24-20
Zachary Wilson 